Armature winding machine



Fi1ed Jan, 14, 1931 l 9 sheets-sheet 2 .1 Q HOLMES ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE Jail. s, 1935.

Filed Jan. 14, 1931 9 SheetS-She-et 3 Jan. 8, 1935. J, Q HOLMES ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE y Filed da... 14,1 1951 Q sheets-sheet 4 J. Q. ,HOLMES ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE Jan. 8, 1.935..

9 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Jan. -l4, 1931 Jan. 8, 1935.y .1 Q HOLMES ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 9 rSheets-Sheet 7 Jam 8, 1935. J. Q HOLMES.

ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1951 Jan. 8, 1935. J". Q. HQLMES ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE 9 'sheets-sheet 8 Filed Jan. 14, 1931 J. Q. HOLMES 1,987,190

. 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 ARMATURE WIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1951 Jam s, 1935.

WKN ...QQ

U mK Patented Jan. 8, 193.5

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARMATURE WINDING MACHINE John Q. Holmes, Anderson, Ind., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,

Ware

a corporation of Dela- 'I'his invention relates to machines for winding the armatures of dynamo electric machines and particularly to the type of machine which includes a rotatable work carrier or winding head for supporting an armature core assembly with an armature shaft and for rotating the core upon an axis transverse to the axis of the armature shaft.

One of the-objects of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding the armature wire upon an armature core which shall be fully automatic in operation. By fully automatic, it is meant that when the machine has once been started into operation it will wind upon the core a series of armature coils and will provide between preceding and succeeding coils, a loop of Wire extending from the last turn of a preceding coil to the first turn of a lsucceeding coil in order to provide a lead by which the coils may be attached to a commutator segment. The machine comes to rest only after a predetermined number of coils have been wound on the armature core. In order to accomplish this object of the invention the machine comprises chiey, (1), means for automatically .stopping rotation of a shaft carrying a winding head after a certain number of turns of any coil have been wound upon the armature core; (2), a winding head combined with automatic mechanism for indexing the core into a succeeding position preparatory to Winding the next succeeding coil thereon; (3), an automatically releasing hook located on the winding head, said hook being used to secure the end of the wire preparatory to starting the machine into operation said hook releasing the starting end of the wire preparatory to winding the second coil on the armature core; (4), a mechanism which begins to operate after the armature core winding head has stopped rotating and which forms a twisted loop in that portion of the wire which connects the supply reel of wire with the last turn of the last coil wound on the core, in order that this loop will extend from the first turn of the succeeding coil which is wound lon the core; (5) means for automatically start- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic end View of an armal ture and winding wound thereon by a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fully automatic winding machine.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation View in the direction of arrow 3 of Fig. 2, a portion of the cover thereof being removed for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of 'the machine partly in section, the section being principally taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. In this View the machine is in condition for winding art armature coil.

, Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of members comprising the winding head or fixture and is drawn to a larger scale than the preceding figures.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof viewed in the direction of the arrow 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary end elevation viewed along and at right angles to the line 9-9 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the automatically releasable hook.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional View o n the line 12-12 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 12a is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 12a-12a of Fig. 12.

Fig.' 13 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 13-13 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the machine taken principally on the line 14-14 of Fig. 2, and shows the machine in condition for starting to Wind a coil.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of means for guiding wire to the winding head.

Fig. 16 is a plan view thereof partly in section taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 14 and shows the machine in condition following the winding of an armature coil and the indexing of the core and preparatory to forming a loop in the wire which connects the wound coil with the supply reel.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on line 18-18 of Fig. 17. I y

Fig. 19 is a plan view partly in section taken on the line 19-19 of Fig.- 14, and showing `mechanism for operating the' device which provides a ziol twisted loop between the preceding and succeeding amature coils.

Fig. 20` is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the loop twisting mechanism and is taken on the line 21-21 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof viewed in the direction of arrow 22 of Fig. 2 or arrow 22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 23-23 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary side view looking in the direction of the arrow 24 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 25-25 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale showing a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a plan view of the mechanism for operating the loop twisting device and for controlling the automatic starting of the rotation 0f the Winding fixture.

Fig. 28 is a sectional view on the line 28-28 of Fig. 27.

Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken on the line 29-29 of Fig. 27.

Fig. 30is a fragmentary side view looking in right angles to the line 30-30 of Fig. 28.

Fig. 31 is a sectional view on the line 31-31 of Fig. 2.7.

Figs. 32, 33, 34 and 35 are diagrams showing the main operation of the device for effecting the twisting of the loop of wire.

Fig. 36 is a chart showing various portions performed by the mechanism which operate the device for effecting the twisting of the loop.

Referring principally to Figs. 4 and 14 the 4machine frame 40 provides a bearing 41 for a tubular shaft 42 which carries the driving member 43 of `the work carrier or winding head. The driven member 44 of the work carrier is supported on shaft 45, journalled in bearings 46, carried by a bracket 47 attached to a shelf 48 provided by the frame 40. The shaft 42 is journalled in bearings 48 provided in a rotatable sleeve 49, journalled in a bearing 50 provided by the frame 40. The sleevel 49 is driven by a bevel gear 51 meshing' with a bevel gear 52 attached to a shaft 53 journalled in bearings 54 and 55 and carrying a detachable gear 56. The gear 56 meshes with a gear 57 which in turn meshes with a gear 58 detachably mounted on a shaft 59 journalled in bearings 60, 61 and 62, provided respectively by the frame 40 and by a bracket 63 supported within the frame 40. The shaft 59 carries a wormwheel 64 driven by worm 65 connected with the shaft 42 which also has bearings 66 and 67 provided by the bracket 63. End thrust of the shaft 42 is resisted by thrustbearings 68 and 69, thus it is apparent that while the Shaft 42 is rotating to rotate the work carrier members 43 `and 44 it also rotates the sleeve 49 through the train of gears comprising worm 65, worm gear 64, spur gears 57 and 56 and bevel gears 52 and 51. The sleeve 49 includes a flange 70 carrying a plurality of spaced lugs 71 which are adapted to engage a trip pin 72 for stopping the rotation of the shaft 42 after a certain number of revolutions thereof have taken place. l'Ihe manner of stopping rotation of the shaft will be described hereafter but for the present it will be understood that the stopping operation is effected automatically when the stop lug 71 engages 4the stop pin 72 to force the same downwardly. The number of revolutions of the shaft 42 after which the shaft comes to rest can be changed by changing the ratio of the gearing in some of the gear train between the shaft 42 and the sleeve 49. In order to facilitate the changing of the gear and ratio, the gears 56, 57 and 58 are located in an accessible position on one side of the frame 40 and are enclosed by a removable cover 73. The gears 56 and 58 may be removed from theshaft which supports it by unscrewing nuts, 56a and 58a. The idle or intermediate gear 57 is mounted upon a stub shaft` 74 passing through the slot 75 in a bar 76 attached to the frame 40 by a screw 77 which may fit into any one of a series of tapped holes 78 in frame 40 and by loosening a nut 74a on the stub shaft 74, said shaft 74 and gear`57 may be moved along the slot iir order to adjust the gear 57 into correct meshing relation with respect to any gears which may be substituted for the gears 56, 58 shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Theframe 40 supports a sleeve 79, supporting a bearing 80 for a grooved pulley 81, which is driven through suitable belting by a source of power such as an electric motor (not shown). The internal conical surface 82 of the pulley 81 provides the driving element of a friction clutch, the driven element of which is provided by the companion conical surface83 of a disc 84 which is integral with a sleeve 85 slidably endwise along the shaft 42. The sleeve 85 is drivingly connected with the shaft 42 by keys 85a which provide for sliding movement of the sleeve y85 along the shaft 42. A screw pin 86 passes diametrically across the sleeve 85 and through diametrically opposite oblong slots 87 in the shaft 42 and also through the head 88 of a rod 89 in order to connect the rod 89 with the sleeve 85. The sleeve 85 is moved axially by lever 90 having arms 91 each carrying a roller 92 received in an annular groove between a thrust bearing 93 and a pair of nuts 94 threaded on the left end of the sleeve 4 85. A spring 95 is enclosed between the thrust bearing 93 and the disc 84 and tends to take up lost motion between the rollers 92 and the adjacent'nut 94 and the adjacent thrust bearing 93.

It is therefore seen that when the clutch members 82 and 83 are connected the pulley 81 will be connected with the shaft 42. This connection is effected by depressing a pedal (not shown) connected with a rod shown in Fig. 14 carrying at its upper end a forked block 101 pivotally connected by pin'102 with a lever 103 as shown in Figs. 4 and 14. Lever 103 is connected to shaft 104 which supports the forked Alever 90. Shaft 104 also carries a latch lever 105 carrying a latch plate 106 adapted to be received by the notch 107 of a latch hook lever 108 pivoted at 109 and urged upwardly againstthe pin 72 by spring 110. The lever 105 is urged in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 14 by spring 111 having one end attached to a hook 112 fastened to the lever 105 having the other end attached to the head of a screw 113 which passes through a bracket 114 and receives a nut 115 which maintains the screw 113 within the bracket 114. The bracket 114 is attached by screws 116 and nuts 117 to the frame 40.

When the pedal rod 100 is depressed the lever 102 and shaft 104 and fork 90 will be rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 14 in order to cause motion to be transmitted through the thrust bearing 93 and spring 95 to the clutch disc 84 thereby causing its friction cone surface 83 to engage the conical friction surface of the pulley shaft 42. The operator maintains the pedal down until after the stop lug 71 has been rotated out of engagement with the throw-out pin 72, whereupon the hook lever 108 will be moved by spring 110 into position to cause the notch 107 to receive the latch plate 106. This will lock the forked lever 90 in such a position as to maintain the clutch engaged. After a predetermined number of revolutions of the shaft 42 have taken place, one of the lugs 71 will engage the clutch throw-out pin 72 to push the hook lever 108 downwardly to release the latch plate 106 and to permit the spring 111 to move the levers 105 and 90, counterclockwise and to retract the driven clutch 83 from the driving clutch 82. f

In order to bring the shaft 42 quickly to rest after disengaging the clutch, the spring 111 operates also to move a conical brake surface of the disc 84 into engagement with the conical brake surface 121 of the brake ring 122. The ring 122 has square sides each providing a notch 123 Afor receiving a frame bar 124 each fastened at the left hand end to a frame plate 125 and at the right hand end connected to a screw 126. Screws 126 pass through bushings 126a threaded into the frame 40. The two frame bars 124 which are in the same horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 4 are each provided with a slot 127 for receiving a screw pin 128 set by a lock nut 129. By turning the bushings 126a after the screws 126 are loosened the brake frame may be adjusted along the winding head shaft, and hence the brake ring 122 relative to the brake and clutch disc 84, the screw pins 128 assisting to support the brake frame horizontally. When this adjustment has been made the screws 126 are tightened to lock the bushings 126a in position. When not engaged by the disc 84 the ring 122 is urged by springs 130 against a shoulder or ledge 131 of a plate 132 attached to frame bars 124. The springs 130 surround rods 133 which. retain these springs in position. Rods 133 are attached to ring 122. 'Ihus it is seen that braking pressure is applied yieldingly by springs each operating against one of the brake members. In this way the brake is. quickly but not jerkily applied. In order to cause the winding head to stop .always in the same position, the disc 84 carries a stop lug /135 which strikes against a stop lug 136 carried by the ring 122.

Winding head and automatic indexing mechanism Referring to Figs. 7 to 14 and 17 the driving member 43 of the work support or winding head comprises a block 140 having a cylindrical hub 141 which is centrally apertured to receive an end of the tubular shaft 42. Screws 142 secure the hub 141 to the shaft 42. The block 140 is provided with a central aperture 143v (see Fig. 13) -for receiving a rak 144 provided by the rod 89.4 A spring 147 located between a shoulder 148 provided by the rod 89 and a shoulder 149 provided by the shaft 42 (see Fig. 4) tends to urge the rod 89 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 13 so that the shoulder 148 will normally engage a shoulder 150 provided by the recess in the hub 141 of block 140. The rac-k 144 meshes with a gear 151 attached to a shaft 152, .the ends of which are supported by brackets 153 and 154 which-are attached by bolts 155 and nuts 156 to the block 140. Block 140 is provided with arcuate grooves 157 for receiving and guiding arcuate racks 158 which mesh with gears 159 which are attached to the shaft 152 as clearly shown in Fig. 12.

Each arcuate rack 158 is provided with a recess 160-for receiving an indexing dog 161 which is pivotally supported by the rack and is yieldingly urged into the position shown in Figs. 8 and 12 by a spring 162. In this position the dog 161 is received by one ofthe core slots of an armature core 163 which isvreceived by a semicylindrical recess 164 provided by block 140 and the brackets 153-and 154. The core 163 is assembled with 'an armature shaft y165 and a commutator 166 (see Fig. 7). The bracket 153 supports a tubular member 167 for receiving one end of the shaft and the other end of the shaft is supported by a bracket 168 having spaced arms 169 and 170 which are hingedly connected with the bracket 154 by a pin 171. The bracket 168 is provided with a recess 172 for receiving the commutator 166 and the end of the shaft 165 which projects from the commutator. The bracket 168 is maintained in the position shown in Fig; 7 by the latch lever 173 having a hook 174 for engaging a latch plate 175 which is attached to the bracket 154. The latch lever 173 is pivotally supported by a rod 176 carried by the bracket 168, and the rod 176 is received by one Aend of a spring 177 which is coiled around the pin 171 and bears at the other end against a pin 178 carried by the bracket 154. Thus the spring 177 tends to urge the bracket 168 into the position shown in Fig. 7. In order to remove the armature assemblage from the Winding head the lever arm 173a is pressed toward the winding head so that the bracket 168 may be pulled away from the bracket 154 as viewed in Fig. 7. Then the armature assemblage may be removed endwise from the winding head and another one may be replaced, after which bracket 168 is released and is returned by spring 177vinto the position shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 13, the drivenI member 44 of l the work holder or winding head comprises a block 180 attached by a set screw 181 to the shaft 45. The block 180 is provided with a semi-cylindrical recess 182 for receiving the armature core 163 and is provided with wire guiding and camming surfaces 183 and 184 for guiding wire into certain spaced core slots adjacent the surfaces 183 and 184, such as slots 163a and 1635, respectively. The core is retained in its desired position for winding by a retaining dog 185 having prongs 186 and 187 which are received by certain. slots of the armature core. These prongs define va notch 188 for receiving a tooth such as tooth 163e of the armature core.- The dog-185 is slidable within a recess 189 provided by the shaft 45 and is maintained in engagement with the core by a spring 190. The dog 185 is attached byv pin 191 to a rod 192 which extends through the shaft 45 and is connected with a screw-threaded collar 193 which may be secured in the desired position of adjustment relative to the rod 192 by lock nut 194. The collar 193 is engaged by a forked lever 200 which is pivoted upon a rod 201 carried by a bracket 202 provided by the frame 40. The lever 200v is provided with an operating handle 203 and with a latch Aplate 204 which is engaged by latch plunger 205 slidable within a recess 206 provided by a lever 207 which is mounted upon a fulcrum pin 208 carried by the bracket 202. The lever 207 is connected with the lever arm by a rod 209, a turn buckle 210 and a rod 211.

As previously explained, the disengagement of the clutch member 83 from the clutch member 82 and the engagementof the brake member 120 with the brake member 121 is eected by the engagement of the lug 71 with the knockout pin 72 which occurs after the shaft 42 has made a certain number of revolutions. 'I'he disengagement of the clutch and the applying of the brake is attended by the counterclockwise movement of the lever arm 105 from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 17 and likewise the movement of the pin 86 toward the left from thev position shown in Fig. 14 to the positionshown in Fig. 17. The movement of the lever arm 105 toward the right into the position shown in Fig. 17 causes counterclockwise rotation of the lever 207, clockwise rotation of the lever 200 and movement of therod 192 toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 17. This movement of the rod 192 causes the prongs 186 and 187 to be retracted from the armature core so that it may be rotated clockwise by an indexing mechanism which is operated by movement of the pin 86. When the pin 86 moves toward the left into the position shown in Fig. 17` counterclockwise rotation of the gears 151 and 159 is produced due tothe engagement of the pin 86 with the rod.89, and the rack 144 with the gear 151. This causes the segments 158 to be moved clockwise from the position shown in Figs. 14 and 12 to that shown in Fig. 17. During this movement of the segments 158, the dog 161 engages the core 163 to move the latter through an angular distance equalto the angular spacing of the core teeth. After the core has been moved'inthis manner, the latch plate 204 having been released from the latch plunger 205 of lever 207, as shown in Fig. 17 during counterclockwise movement of the lever 207, the rod 192 is returned by the spring 190 to the position shown in Figs. 14 and 13 so thatthe prongs 186 and 187 will enter certain slots of the armature core to retain the core in the position into which it has been indexed by the movement of the dog 161 just described.

The starting of the machine by the movement of the rod 100 or by automatic means to be described causes the rod 89, the segment 158 and `the dog 161 to be restored to the position shown in Figs. 8, 13 and 14. Inl this position the dog 161 will be received again by a notch of the armature core 163 and will be located properly for the next indexing operation.

The rotation of the shaft 104 clockwise to engage theclutch and thus to start rotation of the shaft 22 causes the lever 105 to move clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 17 to that shown in Fig. 14 thereby causing the lever 207 to be restored to the position shown in Fig. 14. Since the lever 200 is already in the position shown in Fig. 14 before the lever 207 has been moved into its position shown therein, the spring 206 yields to allow the latch plunger 205 to be cammed inwardly by 'the engagement with the latch plate 204 until the plunger clears the place, whereupon the plunger 205 will be permitted to move i-nto the position shown inlFig. 14.

' Automatically releasing hook Referring to Figs. 8 and 11, the driven member 44 of the winding head carries a rotatable shaft 220 provided with a hook 221 around which the wire, which joins the supply reel of wire with the The shaft 220 is moved clockwise l chine in order that the loop will be automatically released from the hook 221 at the end of each coil winding operation. 'I'his is accomplished by mechanism including the pin 191 which is attached to the dog 185 and extends through notches provided in the shaft 45 and in the block 180. The pin 191 is received by a notch 223 provided in a lever 224 which is pivotally mounted upon a screw 225 threaded into the block 180. The'lever 224 engages a ange 226 of the shaft 220 in order to retain the shaft 220 into the position shown in Fig. 10. The lever 224 is provided with a finger 227 bent from the plane of the main portion of the lever inwardly toward the block as viewed in Fig. 10. 4This finger is received by a notch 228 provided by the flange 226 of the shaft 220. It is therefore apparent that when the rod 192 is moved toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 17, the pin 191 will cause the lever 224 to be rotated counterclockwise; and the engagement of the finger 227 with the left hand side of the notch 228 as viewed in Fig. 8 will cause the shaft 220 to be moved clockwise from the position shown in Figs. 14 and 8 to that shown in Fig. 17. The end of the wire which has been wound around the hook 221 will therefore be released during the indexing of the core in a clockwise direction of rotation. Since the portions of the core which are on the righthand side of a vertical plane coincident with the axis of the core will move downwardly during the indexing of the core, it is apparent that the loop L1 (see Fig. 1) connecting the start end of the wire with the hook 221 will be moved away from the hook automatically during the indexing of the core into the next winding position. As soon as the latch plate 2.04 is relieved from engagement by the latch plunger 205, the rod 192 will be restored to the position shown in Fig. 14 and hence the shaft 220 will be rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 17 to the position shown in Fig. 14.

It will be noted that the lever 203 can be moved clockwise independent of the lever 207. This feature is included in the present invention as it is desirable to retract the dog when the completely wound armature is being removed from the winding head and an empty core is substituted.

Loop forming and twisting mechanism Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the armature core 163 carries a number of windings each represented in that figure by a single turn of wire. It will be understood that each armature winding has a plurality of turns. The wire loop L1 is formed by twisting the end of wire from the supply reel about the hook 2.21. The wire portion Sl leading from the loop L1 designates the starting portion of the first coil. E1 designates the ending portion of the rst coil, and this portion is joined by a 'starting portion S2 of the second coil to be wound by a loop L2. end portion E2 of the second coil is joined with the start portion S3 of the third coil by a loop L3 and so on, each preceding coil being joined to a succeeding coil by a loop. 'Ihe other loops are marked L4, L5, L6 and L7 to designate the loops which are formed before starting to wind the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh coils respectively. After the coil winding operations have been per- Similarly, the

y y 1,987,190 formed the ends of the twisted loops are stripped of insulation and are then used as leads for con-i necting the armature coils with the respective segments of a commutator. The end portion E7 of the seventh coil which .is severed from the supply reel is joined with the start loop L1 to provide one of the armature coil leads.

The mechanism for automatically forming the loops L2 lto L7 inclusive will now be described with reference to Figs. 14 to 26 inclusive.

The frame 40 supports a tubular post 240 inclined -slightly to the vertical and providing ex.- ternally a guide for a sliding frame 241 carrying a wire guide tube 242 and a wire guide pulley 243. The guide 242 can be removed from the post 240 by first removing a nut 242a threaded upon the upper end of the guide 242. The tube 242 carries a spring pressed ball 244. As the wire is fed downwardly through thetube 242 as viewed in Figs. 14 and 15', the ball 244 operates to prevent relative movement of the wire upwardly with respect to the tube 242.

The frame 241 is connected by a pin 245 with the head 246 of a rod 247 located within the tubular post 240 and connected at its lower end with a screw threaded shank 248 of a clevis 249 connected by link 250 with a lever 251 attached to'a shaft 252 supported in a bearing 253 provided by a case 254 having an opening 255 in the top wall thereof and supported by the machine frame 40. The pin 245 passes through slots 245a. in post 240, said slots providing for vertical movement of the frame 241 relative to the post 240. 'I'he shaft 252 is operated by a lever 260 carrying a roller 261 bearing against a cam 262 pinned to a shaft 263 journalled in bearings 264 and 265 provided by the ca'se 254. The cam 262 cooperates with the levers 260 and 251-to maintain the rod 247 in upper position as shown ini Figs. 14 and 15 against the action of a spring 266 bearing* at its lower end against a shoulder 267 provided by the rod 247 as shown in Fig. 14, and bearing at its upper end against a screw 268 threaded throughthe post 240 as'shown in Fig. 15. During the.-

twisting of a loop the wire guide tube islcaused to move downwardly relative to the armature f core 163 from the position shown in Fig. 3-2 to the position shown in Fig. 33 for the purpose of providing slackin the wire W which slack portion is formed into a twisted loop.

The loop twisting mechanism will Jnow be described with particular reference to Figs. 19 to 26 inclusive. The wire W shown in Figs. 32 and 33 is grabbed by a pair of hook levers 270 pivoted in Figs. 19 and 2l. The hook levers 270 are norf mally urged together by a pair of springs 290 attached by'screws 291 to the shaft 273. Normally these hooks 270 are inthe position shown in Fig. but may be moved to open position shown in Fig. 26 by a rod 292 slidable through the shaft 273 and integral with a screw 293 threaded through a bracket 294 and locked thereto by nut 295. The bracket l294 is pinned to a rod 296 which is slidable through the frame 278 and carries a pin 297 received by a slot 298 provided by a lever 299 pinned to a shaft 300 pivotally supported by ears 301 provided by the frame 278. 'I'he shaft 300 is pinned to a lever 302 having a bifurcated end 303 straddling a rack bar 304 carrying rack teeth 305 meshing with a pinion 306 xed to a shaft 307. Shaft 307 is rotatably supported by thebracket portions 276 and 277 of the frame 278 and carries a gear 308 meshing with a pinion 309 integral with the shaft 273. The rod 292 is yieldingly maintained in normal position shown in Fig. 25 by a spring 310 located between the frame 278 and the bracket 294 to which the rod 292 is threadedly connected. The rod 292 is l moved into the position shown in Fig. 26 to open the hook levers 270 when a pin 311 connected with the rack bar 304 moves upwardly against the bifurcations 303 of the lever 302.

The mechanism for operating the rack bar 304 and the rod 292 through the pin 311 comprises a link 312 attached by the pin 311 to the bar 304 and connected by pin 313 with a slide bar 314 connected by pin 315 Aat its lower end with a turn buckle 316 attached at its lower end to a screw pin 317 threaded into a lever 318 which, as shown in Fig. 19, is pivoted upon a screw 320 threaded into a boss 321 provided by the case 254. The inner end of the lever 318 carries a roller 322 engaging a cam 323 driven by the shaft 263. A spring 318a. urges the roller 322 against the cam 323 and is effective to restore the twister shaft 273 rotatively to normal position.

During the operation `of twisting the loop vin the wire the entire frame assembly including the frame 278, the post 282 and the bracket 283 is oscillated about the pivot screw 284 by mechanism which includes a cam 330 mounted upon and driven by the shaft 263 and having a race 331 engaging a roller 332 pivotally attached to the end of a rod 333 slidable through a bearing 334 provided by the case 254. The rod 333 is connected by a link 335 with a -plate 336 of triangular formation pivotally attached by screw 337 to the bracket 283. The plate 336 has a lug 338 having a tapped hole which receives a screw 339 the end of which bears against the bracket 283 as shown in Fig. 20. The center of mass of the parts supported ,by the pivot screw 284 lies toward the/,left of a vertical line passing through the axis of the screw 284. Thus the force of gravity urges the frame 278'and other parts supported by the screw 284 in a. counter clockwise direction, thus urging the roller 332 against the cam race 331. The position of the frame 278 and hence the position of thel hook levers 270 relative to'the wire W can be varied by turning the screw 339 which varies the angular relation betweenthe plate 336 and the bracket 283.

The cam diagram shown in Fig. 36 illustrates the time relation between the various devices which contribute to the formation of the twisted loops L2 to L7 shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 36 the' action ofcam 262 which controls the longitudinal diagrammatically by the line A-B-C-D`-E- A. Line A-'B represents that between zero degrees or home position of the shaft 263 and 50"v of rotation of shaft 263 the wire guide 242 remains in'the normal position shown in Fig. 32. B-C represents that between 50 and 75 the wire guide 242 advances into the position shown in Fig. 33. Line C-D represents that between and 155 the wire guide 242 remains in the position shown in Figs. 33 and 34. Line D-E represents that between and 210 the wire movements of the wire 'guide 242 is represented guide recedes from the core 163 or returns to normal position. Line E-A represents that for the balance of one revolution of the shaft 263 the wire guide 242 remains in normal position.

In Flg. 36 .the line F-G-H-J-K-F represents the action of the cam 330 which controls the movements of the twister Jaws bodily toward or away from the wire W which leads to the amature -core. 'I'he line F--G represents that between zero and 50 of rotation of shaft 263 the twister jaws 270 advance from the normal position shown in Fig. 32 to a gripping position 270x shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. 32. This advance takes place before the wire guide 242 begins to advance. During this advance movement of the gripper jaws 270 the bevel surfaces 270a of these jaws (see Fig. 26) engage the wire and are cammed apart to permit the wire to be received by the notched portions 270D yof the jaws. Then the Jaws springv together again due to the action of the springs 290. Thus at point G just as the wire guide begins to advance from point B, the wire W is held by the jaws 270. Line G-H represents that between 50 and 75 the twister Jaws 270 recede as the wire guide advances to the point C. At the point H or at 75 of shaft rota# tion there is suillcient slackness in the wire W toprovide for the twisting of a loop. The twisting of the loop is performed in accordance with .the line N-O-P-Q-R-N denoting the action'of cam 323. Line N-O represents that the twister is inactive from zero to ofrotation of shaft 263. Line O--P represents that between 80 and 165 the cam 323 operates to effect rotation of the twister jaw shaft 273. In other words, the twisting of the slack wire W begins 5 degrees after the slackness inthe wire has been provided. Fig. 34 represents the twisting of the loop and shows diagrammatically the condition of the apparatus at about or at about point D on the line A-B-c-D-E-A in Fig. 36.

As was described with reference to Figs. 21 and 22 the rotationv of the twister shaft 273 to twist a loop of wire is produced by an operation of cam 323 which effects upward movements of turn buckle 316, bar 314, link 312, pin 311 and rack bar :304. During the latter part of the upward movement of bar 304 the ends of pin 311 engage the bifurcations 303 of lever 302 thus causing motion to be imparted through shaft 300, lever 299, pin 297, rod 296, bracket 294, screw 293 to rod 292 causing the rod to move into the position' shown in Fig.`26 to effect the opening of the jaws ,270 as shown in Fig. 26. The Jaws 270 will be opened at or before point P or of rotation of shaft 263. The twisted wire loop is now free of the jaws as shown in Fig. 35. yZin the cam chart line'J-K represents a recession. of the twisting jaws 270 to free the loop of wire L between 165 vand. 235 of rotation of shaft-263 during which the twister shaft 273 is rotated backsto normal position as represented by line Q-R between 175 and 235. The backward rotation of Athe twister shaft 273 as represented by line Q--R is effected by downward movement of rack bar 304 which is pulled downwardly by a spring 318a shown in Fig. 28 which acts to pull the lever 318 in a counterclockwise direction thus effecting downward-movements of turn buckle 316, bar 314, link 312 and rack bar 304.

IAs stated before the wire guide 242 recedes from the core 163 as shown in Fig. 35vbetween 155 and 210 as represented by line fD-E of the upper curve in Fig. 36. At 210 the wire W is in such the winding-head shaft 42 is started into operation automatically.

Means for automatically starting rotation of the winding head The automatic starting of the winding head is effected through the agency of a lever 350 which is attached to shaft 252 as shown in Fig. 14 and which is given a clockwise movement during the recession of the wire guide 242 or between 155 and 210. Lever 350 is, attached bylinks 350a to a rod 351 and this movement of lever 350 causes rod 351, which is guided by brackets 352, to be moved toward the right in Fig. 3 and to cause a latch 353 pivotally attached thereto by pin 354 and pressed upwardly by a leaf spring 355 to engage a lever 356 pivoted on a stub shaft 357 and to move the lever 356 counterclockwise in Fig. 3. The lever 356 has an arm 358 carrying a pin 359 received by a slot 360 in a link 361 pivotally attached to the lever 103 by the pin 102.

clockwise from the position shown in Fig- 3, lever '356 will be moved counterclockwise thus causing the lever 103 to be moved downwardly to cause the clutch shifting lever 90 to be moved into clutch engaging position. In other words, the mechanism performs automatically that which is performed by the operator when moving the pedal rod 100 downwardly. The pin and slot connection 359, 360 between link 361 andllever 359 permits a manual starting of the winding head independently of the automatic starting means. Before the rod 351 completes its travel toward the right during which it automatically operates the clutch lever, the latch 353 is automatically disconnected from the lever 356 in order to permit the latter to return to normal position before the armature coil winding'operation is completed.

During the movement of the rod 351 toward theV left in Fig. 3 which occurs during the advancing ofthe wire guide between 50 and 75 of rotation of shaft 263 as represented by line B-C the latch 353 is restored again to cooperative relalatch 353 is in position for operation by cam 262 to start the rotation of the winding head.

Means for automatically starting 'the operation of the twisting devices The automatic means for starting the twisting devices into operation will now be described with reference to Figs. 1'4, 17, 19, and 27 to 31 inclusive. The source of power for driving lthe cam shaft 263 which operates the twisting devices and wire guide may be a small electric motor (not shown) connected by a pulley and belt with apulley 400 fixed to a shaft 401 journalled in bearings 402, 403 and 404 carried by the case 254. The shaft drives a gear 405 meshing with a gear 406 xed to a shaft 407 mounted in bearings 408 and 409 provided by the case 254. The shaft 407 drives a ratchet wheel 410 which may be drivingly connected with the shaft 263 by means of a pawl 411 pivoted upon a screw 412 carried by an arm 413 fixed to the shaft 263. The pawl 411 is yieldingly urged toward the ratchet 410 by a spring 414. Normally, the pawl 411 is held in retracted position shown in Fig. 28 and Fig. 14 by a stop lever 415 fixed toa shaft 416 journalled in a bracket 417 attached by screws 418 to the case 254. The stop lever 415 is normally urged into stop position engageable with the arm 411a of pawl 411 by a spring 419 coiled around the shaft 416 and having one end bearing against the lever 415 and the other against the bracket 417. 'I'he shaft 416 is fixed to a lever 420 which extends into the path of movement of a plurality of pins 421 carried by a ratchet 422 rotatable upon a bolt 423 which extends through a tubular boss 424 integral with the case 254. Ratchet 422 is driven by a pawl 425 pivoted on pin 426 carried by a pawl lever 427. Lever 427 is pivoted upon a washer 423a. located upon the bolt 423. The washer 423a is thicker than the lever 427 and serves to space the ratchet 422 from the boss 424 at a distance greater than the thickness of the lever 427 in order that the lever 427 may turn free of engagement with the ratchet 422. The screw 423 carries a nut 428 which urges a spring 429 against the ratchet 422 and the ratchet 422 against the washer 423a and the latter against the end surface of the boss 424 in order to frictionally hold the ratchet 422 against rotation when the pawl 425 backs up. Lever 427 is connected by link 430 with a clamp block 431 which may be secured to the rod 209 in the desired position of adjustment by tighteningea clamping screw 432. A spring 433 connecting the pawl 425 with the clamp block ,431 urges the pawl 425 against the ratchet 422.

The operation of the mechanism for automatically initiating the cycle of operations of the loop twisting means is as follows: As previously explained with reference to Figs. 14 and 17, when a predetermined number of turns of wire have been wound upon the armature core to form a complete armature coil, the clutch throw-out pin 72 is engaged by a lug 71 on the slowly rotating disc 70 to cause the latch lever 108 to move downwardly and' to release the latch plate 106 thereby permity ting the spring 111 vto move the clutch lever 105 from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 17 thereby causing the clutch which drives the winding head shaft 42 to be disengaged and the shaft to stop in the desired position, and

the armature core to be indexed into the next winding position. These movements and operations are accompanied by a movement of the rod 209 toward the right from the position shownA in Fig. 14 to that shownA in Fig. 17, thereby causing the clamp block 431 and link 430 to move toward the right, and the lever 427 and pawl 425 to vmove clockwise, and likewise the shaft 423 and ratchet 422, sufficiently to cause one of the pins 421 to engage the lever 420 to 'icause the same to move from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 17 thereby causing the lever 415 to be moved-away from the lever 411a of the pawl 411.

whereupon the spring 414 will move the pawl 411 into engagement with the continuously rotating ratchet 410. 'Ihen the ratchet 410 will be drivingly connected with the .shaft 263 through the agency of the pawl 411 and lever 413.

The-movement of a pin 421 clockwise is `not stop lever 415 will take place.

-end of the lever 420 so as to permit the stop lever 415 to move back again into normal position immediately after releasing the stop lever 411a of.

the pawl 411. Therefore, as the pawl 411 is moved counterclockwise away from its position shown in Fig. 28 by the continuously rotating ratchet 410, the spring 419 will bias the stop lever 415 against `the side of the pawl stop lever 411a.- Then, as the stop lever 411a clears the stop lever 415, the latter will be returned into normal position. Consequently, at the end of one rotation of the shaft 263 the pawl stop lever 411a will engage thestop lever 415, the pawl 411 will be disengaged from the ratchet 410, and further movement of the shaft 263 will be arrested.

Automatic means fornot starting the rotating head into operation after the last coil has been wound upon the armature core.

The ratchet 422 is provided with as many teeth as there are coils to be wound upon the armature core. The armature illustrated has seven coils, hence, the pawl illustrated has seven teeth equally spaced. There are, however, only six pins 421 attached to the ratchet 422 and these pins are spaced apart according to the spacing of six of the ratchet teeth. Since one of the pins is omitted, it is apparent that after the completion of the winding of one ofthe coils no actuation of the Therefore, there will be no rotation of the shaft 263 and no operations performed by the wire twisting mechanism nor by the automatic means-for starting the winding head into operation again. The pins are so located that after the seventh coil` has been wound upon the core there will be no pin brought into operative engagement 'with the lever 420 during the movement of the rod 209 toward the right from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 17 at the time the clutch is automatically disengaged just after the winding of the seventh coil. For conveniently referring to the drawings, the pins 421 have been numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Thus pin 421 No. 1 is the one which operates the lever 420 to initiate the wire loop twisting operations to be performed after winding the first coil upon the armature core, said twisting operation being followed by the operation of the automatic means for connecting the winding head shaft 42 with the rotating pulley 81.

Similarly, the sixth pin 421 engages the lever l42() following the winding of the sixth coil to produce the twisting of loop L7 joining the sixth coil withthe seventh coil to be wound. Since there is no pin 421 No. 7, there will be no movement :of stop lever 415 following the winding of the seventh coil, hence, the twisting operation will not be performed after'winding the seventh coil and theV machine will not be caused. to start into operation again unless the operator should press the pedal rod 100 which, ofcourse, he will not do until after replacing the completely wound armature with a bare core.

Fig. 17 shows pin 421 No. 6 near the end of its travel of one-seventh of a revolution of ratchet 422 clockwise. Pin 421 No.\6 is just clearing the free end of lever 420. At the end of the winding of the seventh coil, the clutch is automatically thrown out and the ratchet 422 is automatically moved one-seventh of a revolution clockwise to bring the pin 421 No. 1 into the position shown in rig. 14; but during this movement of pin 421 No. 1, no movement of the lever 420 takes place. Hence, the operator is required to start the machine before the rst coil can be wound upon the armature coil. Following the winding of the rst coil, the pin 421 No. 1 is moved against the lever 420 to effect the connection of the shaft 407 with shaft 263 to cause the twisting devices to operate in the manner described to twist the loop L2 in the wire W which is to connect the last turn of coil No. 1 with the rst turnof coil No. 2; and subsequent actuations of the clutch and twisting devices take place automatically as described before until after the seventh and last coil is wound.

' While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. f

What is claimed is as`follows:

1. An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable work support for supporting an armature core for rotation about an axis transverse to the core axis, said support having means for guiding wire into certain spaced slots of the armature core, means for intermittently rotating the core about its own axis in order to index the core into successive positions for receiving the various armature windings, means for automatically stopping rotation of the work support after the winding of a coil, and `means for automatically starting the rotation of the work `support except after th winding of the last coil.

2. AnA amature winding machine comprising,

in combination, a rotatable work support for sup-- porting an armature core for rotation about an axis transverse to the core axis, said support hav-- ling means for guiding wire into certain spaced slots of the armature core, means for automatically stopping rotation of the work support after the winding of a coil, means responsive to the stopping lof the work support for automatically indexing an armature core into the next position of winding, and means for automatically starting the rotation of the work supportexcept after the winding of the last coil.

3.- An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable work support for supporting an armature core for rotation about an axis transverse to the core axis, said support having means for guiding wire into certain spaced slots of the armature core, means for automatically stopping rotation of the work support after the winding Ao1! a coil,` means responsive `to the stopping of the work support for automatically indexing an armature core into the next position of winding, means set into operation after the stopping of the work support for automatically forming a twisted loop in the wire leading to the last turn of the coil, and means set into operation after the stopping of the work support for Vautomatically starting the'rotation of the work support except after the winding of the last coil.

4. An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable winding head having means for guiding wire into certain spaced slots of the armature core supported by the head, and means for forming a twisted loop in the wire leading to the last turn of the last coil wound upon the armature core said means comprising a wire guide and a wire gripper associated therewith to prevent the backing-up of the wire, a pair of hooked levers, means for causing the levers to embrace the wireleading to the last turn woimd on the core, means for causing the wire guide to approach the core to provide a slack portion of wire, means for causing the levers to rotate to form the slack portion into a twisted loop and means for causing the levers to be disengaged from the wire at the end of the twisting operation.

5. ,An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable winding head having means for guiding wire into certain spaced slots of the armature core supportedby the head, and means for forming a twisted loop in the wire leading to the last tum of the last coil wound upon the armature core said means comprising a wire guide and a wire gripper associated therewith to prevent the backing-up of the wire, a pair of hooked levers, a shaft pivotally supporting the same, a frame rotatably supporting the shaft upon its axis at right angles to the pivotal axis ofthev levers, meanslfor causing the frame to move toward the core to cause the levers to embrace the wire leading to the last turn wound upon the core, means for causing the wire guide to approach the core to provide a slack portion of wire which is embraced by the hooked levers, means for causing the shaft to rotate to cause the levers to twist the slack wire, and means for releasing the twisted wire loop from the hooked levers.

6. An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, arotatable winding head, a power shaft, a clutch for connecting the head and power shaft, a spring for disengaging the clutch, means for latching theclutch in engaged position against the action of the spring, means responsive to a certain lnumber of revolutions of the winding head for releasing the latch to permit the spring to disengage the clutch, means operated by said spring li'or indexing the armature core into the succeeding winding position, a mechanism for formingv a twisted loop in thelwire leading to the last turn wound upon the core, means set into operation in response to the disengagement of said clutch for causing the loop twisting mechanism to perform one cycle. of operation and then stop, and means responsive to the` operation of said mechanism for causing the clutch to be reengaged following the winding of each coil upon'v the core except the last coil to be wound.

'1. An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable work support for supporting an armature core for rotation about'an ceeding winding position after the head stops roy ltating, a mechanism for forming a twisted loop. in the wire leadingfto the last turn wound upon the core, means-s'et-.finto'operation in response to the disengagement ofA said clutch for causing the loop twisting-mechanism to perform one cycle of operation and then stop, and means responsive to the operation of said mechanism for causingv the' clutch to be re-engaged following the winding of each coil upon the core except the last coil to bei wound.

8. An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable work support for supporting an armature core for rotation about an axis transverse to the core axis, a power shaft,

a clutch for connecting the work support and power shaft, means for causing the clutch to become disengaged after a certain number of revolutions of the work support, means for indexing the core into the succeeding winding position, a mechanismfor forming a twisted loop in the wire leading to the last turn wound upon the core, means set into operation in response tothe disengagement of said clutch for causing the loop twisting mechanism to, perform one cycle of op= eration and then stop, and means responsive to the operation of said mechanism for causing the clutch to be re-engaged following the winding of each coil upon the ycore except the last coil to be wound.

9. An armature winding machine comprising, in combination, a rotatable winding head, means for causing the winding head to turn a certain number of revolutionsand stop, a mechanism for forming a twisted loop in the wire leading to the last turn wound upon the core, a power shaft, a shaft carrying cams for operating said mechanism, means set into operation automatically in response to the stopping of the winding head for causing the power shaft to be connected with the cam shaft to effect oneV revolution thereof and then to be disconnected from the cam shaft, and means operated during the cycle of movement of the cam shaft for causing the winding head to start rotating after the twisting of the loop has been completed 10. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for automatically disengaging the clutch after acertain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a second power shaft; a driven shaft operated by the second 'power shaft; a mechanism for reengaging the clutch; means on the driven shaft for operating said mechanism during a predetermined cycle of rotation of said driven shaft; a coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft, said couplingbeing normally inoperative; and means responsive to the operation of the clutch' disengaging means for rendering the coupling operative for one cycle of rotation of the driven shaft. l

11. An armature Winding machinecomprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for automatically disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a second power, shaft; a driven shaft operated by the second power shaft; a mechanism for reengaging the clutch; a cam-on the driven shaft for operating the clutch reengaging mechanism;v a coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft, said coupling being normally inoperative; and means responsive to the operation of the clutch disengaging means for rendering the coupling operative during one complete revolution only of the driven shaft. A

l2. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for automaticalhr disengaging th clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a driven shaft; a wire guide; means for slackening the wire between the guide and the armature core; means on the driven shaft for operating the last said means during a predetermined cycle ofrotation of the driven shaft; a mechanism for forming a loop from the slack portion of the wire and for twisting said loop; means onthe driven shaft for operating said mechanism during the same cycle of rotation of said driven shaft; a` second power shaft for operating said driven shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft; and means responsive to the operation of the clutch disengaging means for rendering the coupling operative for said predetermined cycle of rotation of the driven shaft.

13. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for automatically disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a/driven shaft; a movable wire guide; means on the driven shaft for moving the wire guide in order to slacken the wire between the guide and the armature core during a predetermined cycle of rotation of said driven shaft; a mechanism for forming aloop from the slack portion of the wire and for twisting'said loop; means on the driven shaft for operating said mechanism during the same cycle` of rotation of said driven shaft; a second power shaft for operating said driven shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft; and means responsive to the operation of the clutch disengaging means for rendering the coupling operative for said predetermined cycle of rotation of the driven shaft.

14. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for automatically disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a driven shaft; a wire guide; meansv for slackening the wire between the guide and the armature core; means on the driven shaft for operating the wire slackening means during a predetermined cycle of rotation of said driven shaft; a mechanism for 'forming a twisted loop from the slack portion of the wire comprising bodily movable hooked levers adapted to embrace the slack portion of the wire; means for rotating the hooked levers in order to form the slack portion of the wire into a twisted loop; means for operating the hooked levers so as to release the twisted loop; means on the driven shaftadapted during the same predetermined cycle of said driven shaft for bodily moving the hooked levers, for operating the lever rotating means and the means for operating the hooked levers so as to release the twisted loop; a second power shaft for operating said driven shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft; and means responsive to the operation of the clutch disengaging means for rendering the coupling operative for said predetermined cycle of rotation of the driven shaft.

15. An armature windingmachine comprising engaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of lthe winding spindle; a driven shaft; a wire guide; ymeans for slackening the wire between the guide, and the armature core; a

cam on the'driven shaft for operating the last said means; a mechanism for forming a twisted loop from the slack portion of the wire comprising bodily movable hooked levers adapted to embrace the slack portion of the wire; means for rotating the hooked levers in order to form the slack portion of the wire into a twisted loop; means for operating the hooked levers so as to release the twisted loop; two cams on the driven shaft, one for bodily moving the hooked levers, the other forv operating the lever rotating means and the means for operating the hooked levers so as to release the twisted loop; a second power shaft for operating said driven shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft; and means responsive to 'the operation of the clutch disengaging means for rendering the coupling operative for one complete revolution of thedriven shaft.

16. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the powerV shaft with the winding spindle; means for automatically disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a driven shaft; a wire guide; means for slackening the wire between .the guide and the armature core; a cam on the driven shaft for operating the last said means; a mechanism for forming a twisted loop from the slack portion of the wire comprising bodily movable hooked levers adapted to embrace the slack portion of the wire, means for rotating the hooked levers to form the slack wire into a twisted loop; means for-operating the hooked levers so as to release the twisted loop, the means for releasing the hooked levers being responsive to the operation of the lever-rotating-means;

f cams on the driven shaft, one for bodily moving in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for automatically disconnecting theclutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a driven shaft; a movable wire guide; means on the driven clutch" reengaging mechanism; means on the driven shaft for operating the last said mecha'- nism during the same cycle of rotation of said driven shaft; a second power shaft for operating said driven shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft; and means responsive to the operation of the clutch disconnecting mechanism for rendering the coupling operative for said predetermined cycle of rotation of the driven shaft. p

, 18. An armature winding-machine comprising vin combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting anarmature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding. spindle; meansfor automatically disconnecting the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a driven shaft; a movable wire guide; a cam on the driven shaft for moving the guide so as to slacken the v Cil wire between the guide and the armature core; a

mechanismI for forming a twisted loop from the Aslack wire; a clutch reengaging mechanism; cams on the shaft for operating the loop twisting mechanism and the clutch reengaging mechanism; a second power shaft for operating said driven shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft; and means-responsive to the operation of the clutch disconnecting mechanism for rendering the coupling operative for one driven shaft. i

19. An armature. winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle rotatably supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power'shaft with thespindle; a mechanism'for disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the spindle; a movable wire guide; a device for reengaging theclutch; a driven shaft; means on said driven shaft for moving the wire guide in order to slacken the wire between the guidel and the armature core and for actuating the clutch reengaging device during a predetermined .cycle of rotation of said driven shaft; a second power shaft for operating the driven shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaftand the driven shaft; and means for rendering the coupling operativein response to dis- `engagement of the clutch for said predetermined cycle of rotationpflf'said driven shaft.

20. Anarmaturewwintiing machine comprising in combination a power shaft; a winding spindle; a work support carried by the spindle and adapted to rotatably support an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the f winding spindle; means -for disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions. of the winding spindle; means for indexing the armature core in response to operation of the clutch disengaging means; a locating pin normally yieldingly engaging the armature core so as to prevent rotation of the same about its own axis during the winding operation; means responsive to the operation of 'the clutch disengaging means for withdrawing the locating pin from the armature core; a driven shaft; a movable wire guide; clutch reengaging means; means on the driven shaft adapted during a predetermined cycle of rotation of said shaft formoving the guide in order to slacken the wire between the guide and the armature core and for operating the clutch reengaging means; a second power operated shaft for operating the driven tshaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaftandthe driven shaft; and

`means responsive to the operation of the clutch disengaging means for' rendering the coupling operative for said ,predetermined cycle of rotation of the driven shaft.

21. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle;

a work support carried by the spindle and' adapt- .ed rotatably tosupport an armature core; a clutch drivingly' connecting the powershaft with the winding spindle; a mechanism for disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions Y`vof the winding spindle;l means for indexing the armature core in response to operation ofthe clutch disengaging mechanism; a locating pin complete revolution of the normally yieldingly engaging the armature core so as to prevent rotation of the same about its own axis during winding operations; means responsive to the operation of the clutch disengaging means for withdrawing the locating pin from the armature core; a second power shaft; a driven shaft operated by the second power shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the second power shaft and the driven shaft; a movable` wire guide; means on the driven shaft adapted during a predetermined cycle of rotation of said driven shaft for moving the wire guide in order to slacken the wire between the guide and the armature core; a mechanism for forming the slack wire into a twisted loop; means on the driven shaft for operating the loop twisting mechanism during the same cycle of rotation of said driven the member out of engagement with the pawl and releases said member after the pawl moves in unison with the ratchetso that after one complete revolution of the ratchet the pawl is disengaged therefrom by the member.

24. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle supporting an armaturel core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; a mechanism for automatically disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a second power shaft; a main cam shaft; a clutch reengaging mechanism; a cam on the main cam shaft for actuating the clutch reengaging mechanism; a ratchet disc on the second power shaft; a pawl on the main cam shaft yieldingly urged into engagement with the ratchet teeth; a member. normally yieldingly urged into engagement with the pawl thereby maintaining the same out of engagement with the ratchet teeth; a disc having equally spaced projecting iingers, the space between one pair of successive fingers however being twice the normal distance between the remaining the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; means for indexing the `armature core in response to operation of the clutch disengaging mechanism; a locating pin normally yieldingly engaging the armature core so as to prevent rotation of the same about its own axis during winding operations; means responsive to the operation of the clutch disengaging mechanism for withdrawing the locating pin from the armature core; a second power shaft; a driven shaft operated by the second power shaft; a normally inoperative coupling between the secon power shaft and the driven shaft; a movable wire guide; a clutch reengaging mechanism; a cam on the driven shaft for moving the wire guide in order to slacken the wire between the guide and the armature core and foroperating the clutch reengaging mechanism; a mechanism for forming the slack wire into a twisted loop; cams on the driven shaft for operating the last named mechanism; and means operated by the clutch disengaging mechanism for rendering the coupling operative for one complete revolution of the driven shaft. f

23. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; -a mechanism for automatically disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the spindle; a second power shaft; a

- main cam shaft; a clutch reengaging mechanism;

maintaining the`same out of engagement with lthe ratchet teeth; a disc having equally spaced projecting fingers; andmeans for indexing said disc in response to-the operation of the clutch fdisengaging mechanism for an angular distance equal to that between successive fingers, one of said flngersduring the indexing of the disc moves Spindle; 111811115 fOr disengaging the clutch after ing fingers; and means for indexing said disc in response to operation of the clutch disengaging mechanism for anangular distance equal to that between said remaining fingers, one of said fingers during the indexing of the disc moves the member out of engagement with the pawl and releases said member after the pawl moves in unison with the ratchet so that afterv one complete revolution of the ratchet the pawl is disen- 'control shaft for operating the loop twistingl gaged therefrom by the member, however, when the space between said one pair of successive iingers passes the member, the latter will not be moved out of engagement with the pawl.

25. An armature winding machine comprising in combination a power shaft; a winding spindle supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for automatically disengaging. the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a control shaft; a clutch reengaging mechanism; means. on the control shaft for operating the clutch reengaging mechanism during a predetermined cycle vof rotation of the control shaft; a movable wire guide; means on the control shaft for moving the wire guide during the same cycle of rotation of said control shaft in order to slacken the wire between the guide and the armature core; a mechanism for forming the slack wire into a twisted loop; means on the 26. An armature winding machine comprising V in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding spindle; means for disengaging the clutch after a certain number of revolutions of the winding spindle; a mechanism for slackening the wire at the end of each winding operation; a mechanism for forming the slack wire into a twisted loop; a mechanism for reengaging the clutch; and means for operating the said mechanisms in succession.

27. An armature winding machine comprising in combination, a power shaft; a winding spindle supporting an armature core; a clutch drivingly connecting the power shaft with the winding 

